Juan Valdez Ybet is a Dominican pianist, arranger, composer, producer and singer-songwriter born on 24 June 1962 in San Juan de la Maguana. He grew up in a musical family led by his father, guitarist José Ignacio Valdez, and learned saxophone and music theory with Plinio Feliz before studying piano in his hometown. Merengue became the center of a career that has also included salsa and bachata.

Career and arrangements

After moving to Santo Domingo, Valdez joined Los Hermanos Rosario as a pianist in 1983. His arrangement of «El Chicharrón» was one of his first studio assignments. Later that year he joined Aramis Camilo's «Organización Secreta», playing piano and arranging merengues including «El Alicate» and «Si la Ven». He went on to work as a pianist, arranger or producer with Sergio Vargas, Alex Bueno and Juan Luis Guerra, among many other performers. His documented compositions include «Por H o por R» and «Como Nadie», recorded by the first two performers, respectively; those authorship credits are distinct from his arrangements for other artists.

Projects under his own name

Valdez also developed his own projects. During the 1990s he formed «Proyecto 2000». In 2018 he discussed a new orchestra bearing his name, with recordings sung by himself and Katya Rodríguez. He released the four-track EP «La Verdadera Navidad» in 2023 and has continued to record merengue under his own name, including «Mi Cultura» and «Déjenme Mi Vida». His official YouTube channel also hosts «Lo Que Nos Une», a series of conversations with Dominican musicians.

Legacy

Alongside his recording career, Valdez has taught piano and popular Latin orchestration at the National Conservatory of Music since 2001. In September 2025, the Dominican Chamber of Deputies approved a resolution recognizing his contributions to music and culture.